How To Add a Brake Controller To a 2013 Toyota Highlander

Question:

Hello, we are going on a cross country trip this summer with our new Coleman 17B 17 travel trailer 3072 lbs unloaded. We have a 2003 Silverado 2500HD which would work fine, but is older and has higher mileage. My wife would rather take her 2013 Toyota Highlander 6V AWD. The Highlander has a tow hitch rated for 5,000lbs and the vehicle should be okay with that, however I think we would need a WD system as it s 3 5/8 with just the empty trailer attached unloaded and Highlander empty. I towed it down our street and the front end was light and the suspension was like an old Cadillac. For the Highlander, we also would need to install a brake controller and 7 pin for the new trailer. Id appreciate your recommendations for our issue and if you have any reservations about trying to set up the Highlander for our trip which includes using interstates over the Rockies. Alternatively, we could start our trip tomorrow with the Silverado as its already set up. Thanks.

asked by: Jonas L

Expert Reply:

In order to setup a 2013 Toyota Highlander for towing a trailer with brakes, you'll first need to start with a 4-way for which I recommend the Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness part # C56217 if you don't have the tow package or the Hopkins Plug-In Simple Wiring Harness part # HM11141825 if you do. This can then be adapted into a 7-way using the 4 to 7-Way and 4-Way Adapter part # ETBC7L. For a brake controller, I recommend the Curt Echo part # C51180 due to the ease of install.

Then for a weight distribution system, I recommend the Fastway e2 Weight Distribution System part # FA92-00-0600 which has integrated sway control and will only require the 2" Hitch Ball part # A-90 to be complete.